Porsche Macan vs Chevrolet Trax

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax, based on the model introduced in 2015, carried over the design updates from 2017, including standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In 2020, the infotainment system was updated, and by 2021, the Premier trim was dropped, leaving only the LS and LT trims. The LS trim featured 16-inch painted aluminum wheels, remote keyless entry, cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, dual front USB ports, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The LT trim added heated, power-adjustable side mirrors, rear window tint, roof rails, LED head- and taillights, remote start, cruise control, chrome belt-line moldings, and silver-painted skid plates. It also included upgraded cloth and leatherette seats, a cargo security cover, and a 120-volt AC power outlet.

In contrast, the 2022 Porsche Macan, introduced in 2015, received another styling refresh, larger standard wheels, seven new wheel designs, and a new center console with haptic touch controls. The Macan lineup included the base model, Macan S, and Macan GTS, with the Macan Turbo's high-output powertrain now in the GTS. The Macan S adopted the previous GTS model’s twin-turbo V6. Our evaluation vehicle, a Macan S, had an MSRP of $87,670, including nearly $20,000 in extras like nicer paint, wheels, four option packages, and performance upgrades. The Macan S featured Volcano Gray paint and 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, maintaining Porsche's tradition of aging gracefully with a taut, athletic look.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax was powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 138 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. It offered front-wheel drive (FWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD). While adequate for city driving, the engine struggled at highway speeds and during passing maneuvers, making plenty of noise. The Trax had a firm ride, harsh over potholes, but a tight turning radius provided solid maneuverability in tight spaces. Rivals like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30 offered more comfortable rides and were more fun to drive. Chevrolet planned to introduce a retuned engine for the 2022 Trax, making 155 horsepower while maintaining 177 pound-feet of torque.

The 2022 Porsche Macan featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in the base model, producing 261 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The Macan GTS inherited the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 from the old Macan Turbo, with 434 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The Macan S, with a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6, delivered 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package. All Macans had a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and a fully variable AWD system. The Macan S featured larger 20-inch standard wheels, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), and optional Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) and Porsche Surface Coated Brakes (PSCB). The Macan S offered a thrilling driving experience with precise handling, unyielding grip, and fantastic brake performance, achieving an as-tested fuel economy of 18.1 mpg.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax offered respectable headroom and legroom in both rows, with supportive front seats but poorly bolstered rear seats. The front featured multiple storage trays and low cupholder placement for large water bottles. The Trax provided 18.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 48.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The front passenger seat folded flat for larger items. These cargo figures were mid-pack for the subcompact SUV segment, with no option for a power liftgate.

The 2022 Porsche Macan, despite its sporty nature, was comfortable for the driver and front-seat passenger. Our Macan S test vehicle had the optional Premium Package with 14-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. The rear seats were cramped, especially for taller passengers, but entry and exit were easy, and the seats were comfortable. The Macan featured new steering wheels modeled after the 911 sports car, though the wheel felt thin and uncomfortable after extended driving. The redesigned center console with haptic touch controls offered more storage space but required looking away from the road to use. Cargo space measured 17.2 cubic feet behind the back seat, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax came with a 7-inch touchscreen running the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system, featuring easy-to-follow menus, vivid graphics, and hard buttons and dials. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, voice control, and an available WiFi hotspot.

The 2022 Porsche Macan was equipped with a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system called Porsche Communication Management (PCM). It included wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and connected services, including available WiFi hotspot access. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with optional upgrades to a Bose premium surround-sound system or a high-end Burmester audio system. The user experience was intuitive, though the voice recognition system was less responsive than competitors. Once configured, the Macan required minimal interaction with the infotainment system, with separate controls for frequently adjusted features.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax received five out of five stars in crash tests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) but did not earn a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety features included an array of airbags and a backup camera. The LT Convenience Package added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and rear parking sensors. However, the Trax lacked advanced safety features like forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning.

The 2022 Porsche Macan came standard with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a reversing camera. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist. Our test vehicle included blind-spot monitoring as part of the Premium Package. The Macan also offered front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera, and an optional Park Assist system. However, the Macan lacked more advanced driving assistance technologies available in the larger Porsche Cayenne. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had published safety ratings for the Macan.